Net stack vendor LVL7 will base its flagship “Fastpath” products on Wind River Linux. Starting with version 4.5, expected Q2, 2007, LVL7's Fastpath stack will be optimized for Wind River's Platform for Network Equipment, Linux Edition (PNE LE), the company says.

LVL7's Fastpath product family comprises a number of modular “platforms” targeting relatively high-end applications within the networking equipment and telecom infrastructure markets. Wind River's PNE targets telecom applications, and is registered with the Carrier Grade Linux 3.2 specification.

Each Fastpath platform supports various functional modules, as shown in this chart:

LVL7's Fastpath architecture
LVL7 describes its Fastpath platforms as follows:

• 2000:
  • Desktop/workgroup switches
  • Server blade switches
  • Wireless LAN switches
  • Switch/router systems

• SMB — Value-line subset of Fastpath 2000 that targets devices with limited memory, moderately-powered CPUs, and other cost-reduced design considerations
• 4000 — For stackable systems:
  • Wiring closet switches
  • Enterprise backbone switches
  • Ethernet/IP multi-service line cards
  • Ethernet first-mile devices
  • Carrier access products

• 6000 — For chassis-based products:
  • High-density wiring closet switches
  • Enterprise backbone switch/routers
  • Access concentrators and multiplexers
  • Edge switch/routers

LVL7 says it chose Wind River in part because Wind River's VxWorks RTOS is “the other dominant OS” next to Linux, making Wind River a natural choice, given that its Workbench tools support both OSes.

LVL7's VP of marketing, Dave King, stated, “Fastpath software is compatible with multiple operating systems, but focusing our ongoing development and integration activities toward a single OS supplier who addresses both Linux and VxWorks is a smart move for LVL7 and our manufacturing customers. We both benefit from a stronger, more strategic relationship with a primary partner like Wind River.”

LVL7 is a venture-funded startup based near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. It launched its Fastpath line of networking software for Linux in March of 2002, partnering with Red Hat and with MontaVista, at the time. It subsequently partnered with Devicescape, which includes a Linux kernel with its WiFi stacks.

Wind River earlier in the year acquired Interpeak, a network stack vendor based in Sweden.

Availability

LVL7's Fastpath products are available now for a variety of OSes and architectures, it says. Fastpath v4.5, based on PNE LE, is expected in Q2, 2007.

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